Srinagar, Oct 2: As temperatures begin to fall across the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, hundreds of nomadic Gujjar and Bakarwal families have begun their seasonal descent from Kashmir’s high-altitude pastures to their winter settlements in the Jammu region and adjoining areas.
The annual migration marks the return leg of a centuries-old transhumance cycle, under which pastoral families move with their livestock between winter and summer grazing grounds in response to changing temperatures and availability of fodder.
The families spent more than four months in high-altitude pastures, including Sonamarg, Thajiwas, Gurez, Vishansar and other alpine areas, where their sheep, goats and other livestock grazed during the summer months.
With colder weather setting in, the families have packed their temporary shelters and begun travelling along mountain tracks, highways and traditional routes, including stretches through the PirPanjal range and the Mughal Road.
Livestock remains the mainstay of the community’s livelihood. During the return journey, some families sell sheep and goats at seasonal markets, providing income to meet household expenses and prepare for the winter months.
“For us, there is no other major source of livelihood. Our earnings depend largely on our livestock. We face several difficulties during migration, but this is a tradition that has continued for centuries and is also essential for our survival,” said Mohammad Ayoub, a pastoralist.
He said the community moves towards the higher reaches during warmer months because of the availability of grazing land.
“We have been following this tradition for generations. When temperatures rise in Jammu and Kashmir and there is less grass available for our livestock, we move towards the higher areas of Kashmir. The climate and availability of pastures here provide better conditions for our animals,” he said.
According to estimates by local authorities, more than 700,000 sheep and goats were taken to high-altitude pasturelands across the northern districts during the summer.
During the summer migration, the Sheep Husbandry and Animal Husbandry departments deployed mobile veterinary teams and doctors to remote grazing areas to provide treatment to sick and injured livestock.
The return journey, which can take several weeks on foot, exposes the pastoralists and their animals to changing weather conditions, difficult mountain terrain and traffic hazards along busy roads.
Despite changes in the environment and the expansion of road infrastructure along traditional migratory routes, the Gujjar-Bakarwal community continues to follow its seasonal movement between the mountains and plains, preserving a pastoral tradition deeply rooted in the Himalayan landscape.
